Cataract Awareness Month: Everything You Need to Know About Cataracts

What Are Cataracts?

Given the statistics, you might think that cataracts are a severe, widespread condition that could affect anyone’s vision. However, cataracts are actually a common and generally harmless condition that occurs naturally as we age.

To understand how cataracts form, it's important to know a bit about the anatomy of your eye. Inside your eye, there is a clear, flexible lens that helps focus light onto the retina at the back of your eye. This allows your brain to interpret the light as an image, much like how a camera lens works. The lens is made up of a combination of collagen (the same material found in hair and nails) and proteins, with the majority of the lens composed of proteins.

As we get older, the proteins in the lens begin to break down. Over time, these proteins clump together, creating cloudy patches within the lens. As the clumping continues, it can block vision, which is why those with more severe cataracts may have cloudy or milky pupils. Cataracts are a natural part of aging, and most people will develop them eventually, typically after the age of 40.

How Do Cataracts Form?

While aging is the main cause of cataracts, several factors can speed up their development or make them more severe. These include health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, prolonged steroid use, obesity, excessive alcohol intake, extended exposure to sunlight, smoking, and previous eye injuries or surgeries. Genetics can also play a role in cataract formation.

Although it’s impossible to completely prevent cataracts due to the aging process, adopting healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, staying active, and avoiding smoking or excessive alcohol consumption can greatly reduce your risk of developing cataracts. 

<h2>The Different Types of Cataracts</h2> 

While cataracts can lead to vision loss and are generally treated with the same surgical procedure, there are several types of cataracts, each with different characteristics. Cataracts are classified based on their location in the lens and when they develop. Here are the five most common types that eye care professionals encounter: 

• Nuclear Cataracts: Cataracts that form in the center of the lens and impact both near and far vision. 

• Cortical Cataracts: Cataracts that form on the side of the lens and block central vision. 

• Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts: Cataracts that form at the back of the lens and quickly impact vision in those with diabetic eye conditions. 

• Congenital Cataracts: Cataracts that affect children and can impact a child’s visual development. 

• Secondary Cataracts: Complications associated with cataract surgery that have similar symptoms to cataracts. 

For more information on the various types of cataracts, how they form, and the symptoms to watch for, check out our detailed guide to cataract types. 

When Should You See a Professional About Cataracts?

If you’ve been told that you’re developing cataracts, you might be wondering when it’s time to seek professional treatment. The need for treatment often depends on how much the cataracts affect your daily life. For example, if you have a small cortical cataract that isn’t obstructing your vision or causing glare, you may just need to monitor it for changes. 

However, there are several symptoms that may indicate it’s time to consult an eye care professional for cataract treatment:

• Glare or halos around lights 

• Trouble seeing in dim or low-light settings 

• Difficulty with night driving 

• Shadowing of your vision 

• Seeing color in a yellowish hue or as extremely faded 

• Poor color vision 

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to reach out to Nationwide Vision and schedule a cataract consultation with one of our experienced eye doctors.

How Are Cataracts Treated?

Once a cataract has fully developed, cataract surgery is the only effective treatment. During the procedure, the surgeon will make a small incision where the clear cornea meets the white part of your eye. A specialized probe is used to break up the cloudy lens, which is then suctioned out. An artificial lens is inserted through the same incision to replace the natural lens, restoring proper focus. The incision is self-sealing, so no stitches are needed, and healing begins immediately. Only a few eye drops are required during the recovery period.

The surgery typically takes about 10 minutes. If cataracts are present in both eyes, the surgeries are usually done one eye at a time, with a few weeks in between to ensure proper healing. Recovery time varies, but most patients are able to resume normal activities within one or two days. To learn more about cataract surgery and other treatment options, visit our Cataract Treatment page.

How to Slow Cataract Development

Although age-related cataracts are inevitable, adopting healthy eye habits can help delay their onset and slow their progression. The key is protecting your eyes from oxidative stress, the "wear and tear" that leads to the clouding of the lens over time. Here are some strategies to consider, and don’t hesitate to talk with your eye care provider about additional options.

1. Wear UV-Blocking Sunglasses: Ultraviolet light accelerates lens damage. By wearing full-spectrum sunglasses, you can decrease exposure to UV rays and potentially delay cataract formation. 

2. Quit Smoking: Smokers are two to three times more likely to develop cataracts because tobacco toxins create free radicals that cloud the lens. 

3. Follow an Antioxidant-Rich Diet: Load your plate with spinach, kale, citrus fruit, berries, carrots, and fish. Vitamins C and E, lutein, and zeaxanthin neutralize oxidative stress inside the eye. 

4. Keep Your Blood Sugar in Check: Uncontrolled diabetes causes sugar molecules to bind to the lens proteins, speeding up clouding. Good glucose control can postpone surgery and slow cataract development. 

5. Use Protective Eyewear: A serious eye injury can trigger traumatic cataracts, a clouding of the lens caused by foreign objects coming in contact with the eye. Wear safety glasses during sports, yard work, or any high-risk task to reduce your exposure.